periodontitis and atrial fibrillation
Prior studies have found a relationship between periodontitis and atrial fibrillation (AF); a recent study found that a causative agent of periodontal disease (especially the highly pathogenic Porphyromonas gingivalis ) migrated to the left atrium in a way that could explain a causal relationship between periodontitis and the development of AF (see afib periodontitis cause Circ2025 in dropbox, or doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.124.071310 ) Details, in brief -- susceptible mice were infected with P gingivalis , inoculated into the pulp of their molars to see if the P gingivalis was found in the left atrium -- intracardiac stimulation was used to assess atrial fibrillation (AF) inducibility in these mice -- human left atrial appendage specimens were evaluated pathologically from 68 patients with AF -- quantitative periodontal severity had been assessed prior to the surgery by PCR Results:...